Retraction mechanisms and assembly thereof



April 19, 1960 RETRACTION MECHANISMS AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF Filed March 26, 1956 G. G. LARSON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fo/ea' 6. Mesa/V IN VEN TOE rr/ewfsf.

April 19, 1960 G. G. LARsoN RETRACTION MECHANISMS AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF' Filed March 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent() RETRACTION NIECHANISMS AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF George G. Larson, Manhattan Beach, Calif., assignor to Paper Mate Manufacturing Company, Culver City, Calif., a corporation 'of Delaware Application March 26, 1956, Serial No. 573,983

Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-42.03)

The present invention relates to a writing instrument provided with a mechanism for projecting and retracting a writing tip. The invention is particularly directed to a construction of such writing instrument whereby the number. of parts is reduced to a minimum and the essential parts can be easily and virtually automatically assembled.

Most writing instruments on the market comprise a separable barrel, a pocket clip attached to the barrel, a writing cartridge provided with a writing tip and mov` ably positioned in the barrel, and some means Ifor selectively causing the writing tip to either project from the barrel into writing position or be retracted into the barrel. Constructions oflretraeting devices used in the majority of prior instruments require a large number of parts which are difiicult to assemble `and position inthe rear barrel portion. The present invention is directed to a very simple construction, using few parts or elements which can be mass produced from plastic or -resinous compositions. Moreover, the mode of assembly is novel and readily adapted to automatic operations. `Furthermore, the construction results in a positive and virtually foolproof mechanism capable of being incorporated in writing instruments of various designs and types; it may be used in ball point writing instruments or nib-type instruments as Well as in other devices.

Generally stated, one of the important and distinguishing characteristics of the present invention lies in the use of a plunger provided with an extension, the plunger being axially movable and the extension being both axially and laterally movable. The end of the extension is provided with an inclined or cam surface which bears against the top of a writing cartridge and receives the axial thrust imparted to such cartridge by a retracting spring. Means are provided for properly positioning and limiting the axial movement of the plunger and extension. The ex tension preferably cooperates with a latching shoulder so that manual, axial movement of the plunger results in a lateral motion of the extension and latches the device with the tip in writing position The latch is'released by manual operation of a side button. t The side-button may cooperate with a shank which not only retains the plunger-extension within the barrel, but also acts to limit the extent of lateral movement of such extension and prevents undesired rotation of the extension. It will thus be seen that a minimum number oftpartsis employed, and as more clearly described hereafter, assembly of the completed instrument, as well as the replacement of writing cartridges, is extremely rapid and foolproof.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective construction Afor writing instruments whereby manufacture, assembly and operation are rendered -facile and positive.

Another object is to provide a novel construction of an actuating mechanism for Writing instruments.

A still further object is to provide a new and inventive combination and arrangement of cooperative elements for use in ball point writing instruments.

These and various other advantages of the invention 2,933,067 Patented Apr. 19, 1960 "ice a will ybecome apparent from the following description of exemplary constructions and modifications. In order to facilitate understanding, reference will be had to the appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section of a writing instrument showing the tip in retracted position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section along plane lI-Il in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken along plane III-III in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken along the plane IV--IV in Fig. 1.

Pig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the Writing instrument illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the projected or writing position.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, the section being taken along plane VI-VI in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of a writing instrument illustrating a modified construction.

i Fig. 8 is a transverse section through a writing instrument illustrating a modified form of releasing and limiting mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of a writing instrument showing a further modification.

The writing instrument illustrated in Figs. l to 6 comprises a hollow case, housing or barrel comprising the lower or front barrel portion 10 and the upper or rear barrel portion or cap 11. The front barrel portion is pro- I vided with a front axial aperture 12 and contains a movvable tubular reservoir or cartridge for writing material (ink, paste or suspension) 13, such cartridge terminating in a writing tip 14 and being normally biased rearwardly (into retracted position) by the spring 15 seated upon an internal shoulder in barrel portion 10 and bearing against a suitable protuberance or enlargement in the wall of cartridge 13.

The rearwardly directed end of barrel 10 is relatively large and terminates in a transverse edge 16; the internal surface is threaded as indicated at 17. This barrel portion 10 is illustrated as being of circular cross section;

The upper barrel portion or cap 11 is provided with `a forwardly directed open end which is externally threaded for engagement with the internal thread 17. Such forwardly directed end or cap 11 is provided with a cylindrical portion 18 presenting a surface of smaller diameter than the external diameter of barrel portion 10 adjacent the edge 16. The rear portion of cap 11 is of somewhat oval cross section and as shown in Fig. 2, includes a pair of longitudinally extending, spaced tins 19. The rearmost or top part of the cap is provided with a port 20.

The actuating device comprises plunger 21 provided with an extension 22. The plunger-extension 21-22 is axially movable within the barrel, the extension being also laterally movable; clearance between port 20 and plunger 21 restricts excessive lateral motion in such port. It will be noted that the plunger and its extension are readily insertable into the cap through the forward open end of said cap during assembly of the instrument. Means are provided for positioning the extension within the cap for limiting longitudinal movement of such plunger and extension and for restricting rotation of the plunger and extension about the longitudinal axis thereof. t Such means are illustrated in Figs. l and 2 and comprise a shank 25 carried by the cap 11 and extending transversely thereinto. The shank 25 may include a face or faces 26 adapted to slidably contact one side of the extension 22 and a finger 27 projecting from the shank 25, the iinger being provided with one `or more retaining lips 28 adapted to slidably contact the other side of extension 22. The shank 27 preferably extends through a lateral slot formed in extension Z2, such slot being of predetermined length and terminating at 23 and 24.

The shank 25, as well as the plunger-extension 21--22,

is preferably/tornade of a molded= resinous composition i sothat during assembly` andafter the. plunger-extension f has'beenJ inserted f-into the.icap,I the shank -is pressed through a suitable opening in ithe wallof the c ap 11 with fthetngera 27 of the-shank..extendingthrough the lateral slot in the extension` Resiliency of the furcated or slotted extension-.andA 'ofv thelips .28 permitsisuch lips to Mbe forced` through=.the-slot and .then` spring out von the other side of the extension, thereby positioningtheexs tension within the-cap,.,.tSince the shank is held against longitudinal movement, the axial movement of theplunger andextension-is limitedby .thegends 23 and 24 of Ythe slot. Lateral motion .of the extension is permitted if the shank 25 is capable of moving laterally.

-Theshank 25 may-beonnected to ory be an lintegral portion of a-button29 movably butY not :non-rotatably positioned'betweenthe `.tins 4-19y of the cap. -In the event thegbutton 29 is ofthe elongated type illustratedrin Figs. l

and 6;tl1e"upper or rearmost portion of thebutton may JU'be snappedf-intopositionby providing slidetprojections on the opposingv inner wall surfaces of the iins 19 and minore'depressions in@ the cooperating faces of the. button 'to receive suchprojections, as indicated at 30..-

The lower orforward portionof the extensionv is provided with -an engaging shoulder 32 adapted to engage *engaging shoulder-32 is shown as the upper pai-tof an outstanding boss or-lug 34 zat the end ofextension `22. -The end of extension '22 preferably includes an inclined face 35- adapted `to receive; the rearward thrustof the cartridge 13 and translate such axial thrust intolateral A'motion of,` the extension. In Figs. 1 to 6 the extension -M-carries a rhollow adapter 37 adapted to receive. the-open lendof cartridge l13. The adapter 37 is provided. with vinwardlyextending shoulder 38 against which `the end of the cartridgeV is seated;v theadapter is also provided with'an inclined top -39 provided with a slot 402througli which a locking pin-41', projecting from the inclined lface 35 -of the extension, extends.

The locking pin 41 is i preferably 'non-symmetrical :in -section and elongated in 'the direction ofthe slot so las to prevent rotation of "7' the adapter 37 Withgrespect to extension 22. VThe-lockconicalt op forcooperation with, the inclined face `35 on ing pin 41 may be provided with a small enlargement t v'42 sc that after the pin41 has been 4pressed through the slot titi-the` enlargements l42 prevent ready removal 'j of the adapter jfrom the extension while permitting sliding) or lateral motion of the adapter with respect .to the extension. Itis evident that during assembly the plungerextension may be rst-connected to the adapter 37 and then this subassembly inserted into the cap 11 before the Av'shank 2S is caused to cooperate with the slot in the extension. Y

JIt will-bel noted that the external forward portion of theV cap 11 presents a shoulder 46-opposing the end edge-16y of the -front barrel section 10 so that when the ytwo barrel portions are threadedly connected these op- M posing-shoulders and edges 16 and 46 may clamp therebetween a ring-like annulus 44 carried by clip-45. In

order to-properlyposition the clip 45 with respect to -thens 19 of the cap 11, the annulus 44 may be proy:vided with an inwardly projecting key47 capable ,of tting'into a longitudinally extending keyway.\48 formed "in `the external -surface of the forward portion of cap -11. The key-way 48 is shownin longitudinal alignment -1 with latching shoulder 33, thereby permitting lug or boss '34; to enter the port formed in the side wall of cap 1=1 to againstwhicliiheinclined face35 may slide.

i, www, ...Lee in." fer.

order to insure that the pin 27 and its lips 28 readily pass through the slot formed in extension 22, means are provided for spacing the extension 22 from the Yopposing inner wall of cap 11 such means comprising a protrusion orlug 31 Carr"y d bythe lower end of extension 22oirtliesideppsit thegbe's'slori lug 34, Having been coriir'ilet'e'ly`I assembled, the writing n- 4 st rument is l operatedf in the following manner: When .in, retractedV pvosi'tfi-fn'i`,tliemcartridge 13 exerts an "a'xial rearward thrust upon .l thefefndlof, eiitension 22 `and the phinger 21 proiects through the port 20, Lug 34 bears against theinrierwall of cap-11 maintaining the extension in a substantiallyaxial position, lips 28 being in contact with one side of such extension.` In order to cause the writing tip 14 to project, it is only necessary to de- L `press or axially movetheplunger 21.` The axial thrust f translated `i al lateral motion of h eig )Y 7,. ausingf gaging v'shoulder ,3 2 to gage l chlng shou er 3.3 thedevice iiow assuming the mvppositiosmshowncinllldigff5IThe iatial motion oflrthe Aextension .22 is,also translated into, a' lateral motion of utt'oiiv 2v9,by"cntact and movement of the e, facepr 'facesf26 ofthe shank 25.

moved .toward the axis'of the Ipen,. this 4 p Jf YsliaiilcZS lto move extension 212 laterally ,so as toreleaseg'fengagfem'enta between shoulders 32 u and 33permitting the spring 15 to move extension 22 and plunger ,21ax ially into the retracted position indiaoafd i 11.Fg -1. Y l l. e

It s ,not necess ,to'use an adapter nor a lcap' provided withjanfoval cross 'section as ingthe form of the embodimentof Figs. l` tlc/ 7 illustrates a construction wherein the rearfbarrelwportion or cap 11 is cirular i1;l:ross section. flhe plunger 21 with its associated extension, is provided ,withau inclined end face 3 5 and a- Lproiecting luahavingthe engaging Y sljloulder Magasin thebrevious embodiment. The external wall ofthecfangllf is ,provided with-arecess adapted to movo ably receive abuttQnVZQ- with itslassociated shank 25 in the previous embodiment. The button 29 may be pro 'dedwitha re'ariin and extension 29' capable of engaging,the .inner wall of .thQCap 11 and thereby preventgaccidental,dislocation ofHthe button. It will be 45 notedA that, ,t he end .of the cartridgelS is now provided pl 1.1`g,5.0(suitably apertured to permit entry of airgtothe interior of the cartridge), such plug having a ,the, entlofthel extension 22.71'I`his construction permits 50,the.san1e mode ,ojr` operation as inthe previous embodiment,` theengaging shoulder 32 being moved down into l. e'ngagernent.; with the lathinghoulder 33 when the plunger isdepressed. l lt willal'so :bemotedlh tthe outer Aend portion of cap 5511. is. 'threaded andtheexternal surface of such cap adjacent suchffthreads is of reduced diameter, presenting a shoulder 46' in oppositionto the-transverse end 16 of thezfrontbanreLsection 10'. The clip45 is made in- 4tegral= with .an encircling metallie band 51 which is grgraspedbetweenthe shoulder 46 on the cap 11 and fthe edge 1620i the front b arrel portion 10 when ,these 1. two portionsare` threadedtogether. It will be noted that in this embodiment the; port through the body of cap 11', .whose,rear. wa1l portion forms the latching shoulder 33, 65./ isrnow.` coveredby the metallicr bandl.

Instead, of .employing a A plug 50, the entire end of the cartridge 13 may be cut on an angle toprovide a face L Otherameans than, those specifically illustrated hereto- 0 -forelmay be employedin producing thefnecessary posi- ,.tioning, holding and motion-transmitting means performed by the shank 25 and' its associated' parts. For example,

" "as shown inl-Fig. '8, which is' a transverse section through a plane similar to that used in Fig. 2, the extension 22' 15 iS 110i fllrcated, but instead, iS Substantially rectangular.

The shank 25 is provided with two fingers 21" cachincluding a lip 28 whereby the extension 22' is slidably grasped and lateral motion may thus be transmitted by the extension to the shank and vice versa. Longitudinal or axial movement or" the extension 22 with respect to shank 25 may belimited and piedeterminedby` the spacing of suitable lugs or enlargements formed in extension 2.2.

Fig. 9 embodies still further modifications. The adapter 37 there illustrated is provided with a hook-like element 52 capable of loosely fitting into a `recess 53 formed in the end portion of extension 22". In this manner relative movement between the extension and adapter is permitted without allowing the adapter to fall out of the cap when the writing instrument is taken apart for the introduction of a new cartridge. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 9, the cartridge 13" may be provided with a plug 50 and rest against the end of the adapter instead of entering the adapter as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 also illustrates a modified form of means for firmly attaching the button 29 to the cap, such means comprising a small rivet head 54 snap-fitted into a suitable aperture in the wall of the cap.

From the various examples given it will -be evident that the invention is applicable to the writing instrument eld in many forms. The cap may be of circular section or of oval section; the edge of the top opening in the cap may be on an inclined plane, as in Fig. 1, or in a transverse plane, as in Fig. 7. The side button may be integral with a shank or a separate element; it may be hingedly connected to the cap or not. The plunger 21 may either be of circular section or if desired, may be of rectangular section and its extension may be provided with an adapter or not. The adapter may receive the upper end of a cartridge or it may simply bear against the upper end of a cartridge. The characteristic inclined face for translating axial movement into lateral movement may exist between the extension 22 and an adapter or directly between the extension and a cartridge. Any combination of latching shoulders rand engaging shoulders may be used and instead of a projecting engaging shoulder on the extension, sfuch shoulder may be part of a notch or recess formed in the extension while the latching shoulder extends into and projects from the inner wall of the cap. The key portion 47 (Fig. 1) of a clip may extend inwardly and form a latching shoulder. The clip itself may be integral with a thin annular ring such as 44, or be integral with a cylindrical band such as 51. These and various other modifications may be employed without affecting the characteristic ease of assembly and all such changes and modifications coming within the scope of the Iappended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

l. A writing instrument including a hollow barrel portion having an open end; an axially movable actuating device having an outer end portion adapted to protrude from the barrel portion and .an inner end portion, said inner end portion being laterally movable into axial disalignment with the axis of said barrel portion; and interlock means for retaining the actuating device within the barrel and limiting its axial movement to predetermined longitudinal limits, said actuating device having a longitudinal slot of predetermined length, said interlock means including a transversely extending shank held by the barrel portion and extending into said slot in interlocked sliding relation therewith, said shank having a dimension in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the actuating device less than the length of the longitudinal slot.

2. In a writing instrument comprising a hollow barrel housing and a longitudinally movable writing unit normally biased rearwardly into a retracted position, the provision of: a plunger projecting rearwardly from the barrel and provided with an integral extension within the barrel to engage the writing unit; said extension having a slot therein; a laterally extending shoulder on the plunger 6 extension; means inthe barrel for engagement with said laterally extending shoulder in an inner position, of the plungerrto hold the writing unit in projected writing position; means at the inner end of said plunger extension disposed to receive the axial thrust of the rearwardly biased writing unit and to translate said thi-.ust into lateral movement ofthe plunger extension toward the engagenient 'means in the barrel for said laterally extending shoulder; a side button disposed externally of said barrel and provided with an inwardly extending shank, said barrel being provided with a port for receiving said inwardly extending shank; and means on the shank within the barrel and extending within said slot, said shank and extension being cooperable for translating lateral movement of the side button into lateral movement of the plunger extension, whereby actuation of the plunger causes engagement of the shoulder on the plunger extension and said engagement means on the barrel to hold the writing unit in projected writing position and whereby lateral inward movement of the button causes disengagement of said shoulder and engagement means t0 permit said writing unit to return to biased retracted position.

3. In a writing instnument comprising ya hollow barrel having a front axial aperture, a writing cartridge provided with a writing tip, said cartridge being axially movable in said barrel into writing position with the writing tip projectng from the axial aperture, and a spring means contained in the barrel and biasing said cartridge rearwardly into tip retracted position, the provision of: an axially movable plunger provided with an elongated integral extension carried in the rear portion of the barrel, said plunger extension being laterally movable within the barrel and having a laterally extending slot; a stationary latching shoulder on the barrel to one side of said extension; an engagement shoulder carried by the extension for engagement with the stationary latching shoulder upon axial and lateral movement of said extension into a forward position; means carried by the front end of said extension to receive the axial thrust of a writing cartridge and to translate the same into lateral movement of the extension toward said latching shoulder; said barrel having a side port rearwardly of the latching shoulder; an external button provided with a shank extending through said side port for lateral movement therein, said button protruding from the barrel in at least one position of lateral movement of the shank; said shank being received within said slot in said plunger extension; and means on the shank and means on the plunger extension cooperable for translating lateral movement of the shank into lateral movement of the plunger extension; whereby generally axial movement of the plunger into forward position causes the latching and engagement shoulders to engage and hold the cartridge with its writing tip in projected position and lateral movement of the button disengages said shoulders and permits said cartridge to be biased rearwardly into tip retracted position.

4. A writing instrument as stated in claim 3 wherein the cooperating means carried by the shank and plunger extension include cooperable surface means for restricting rotation of the shank and plunger extension relative to `each other.

5. A writing instrument as stated in claim 3 wherein said cooperating means carried by the shank of said button and saidv plunger extension include a face on said shank, said face slidably contacting one longitudinal side of the extension, and a finger projecting from said shank and having a retaining lip slidably contacting the other longitudinal side of the extension. 

